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"I'd say 90% of the time I don't know where I'm at, but I have a good idea where I want to go."
"Alrighty then, Chris, I'll follow you!"
And that's what it is like to boondock with Chris Burandt. For him, getting lost in the details slows the ride down. He is a fast-paced rock 'n' roll star in the trees on western steeps. With a grin, a gulp from his Monster energy drink, a cinch from his gloves and helmet and a tip of his head pointing "that away," he is gone picking a line (and I use that term "line" loosely, as lines are straight) through the trees, which are spaced no wider than a soup can apart.
The experienceYou may recall that Burandt was a 2-time Red Bull Fuel and Fury freestyle winner once, on a closed course, and the second win was in the back country of Alaska. He won the first ever gold medal in the snowmobile freestyle event at the Winter X Games in 2007. Burandt also has worked for Arctic Cat as a district sales manager (DSM). While still a Cat rep, some folks in Hollywood called and asked Burandt to be a stunt double for a new Vin Diesel action flick. After his Hollywood stunt days were done, he invested some mullah into his and his wife's dream: Burandt's Back Country Adventure.
The nearly 30-year-old freestyler transformed into Burandt the businessman, and he puts the same energy into his business that he used in attacking freestyle ramps.
"I have been fortunate to win just about everything there is to win in freestyle, I know my limits, and I decided it's time for me to pursue my true passion in this sport, he says. Man I love riding in the trees!"
On Burandt's Web site it says, "My true passion for snowmobiling comes in the back country. There is an adventure around every corner, a challenge staring you in the face at every hill and a sense of exploration as you wander through areas that possibly no one else has been. These are all the things I live for when I ride, and I want to share these experiences with others. Thus my new venture… Burandt's Back Country Adventure!"
For 2008, Burandt cycled 120 guests through his tours. So what comes with a night and day at Burandt's pad?
He and his wife Sandy have a quaint 4-bedroom lodge in Kremmling, Colo. The lodge will sleep 6 guests and is a sledder's paradise, complete with big screen TV, a king-sized cooler filled with Monster drinks, leather furniture, a fireplace, Jacuzzi, washer and dryer and a 30x60-ft. heated shop. With the tour package comes dinner and breakfast which are prepared by Burandt's mother-in-law, Bev Thompson. A chef by trade, Bev knocks out some killer feasts!
Burandt's Back Country Adventure also has a shuttle for guests to get back and forth from the Denver airport. The big black hot rod Powerstroke Excursion shuttle will get you in the mood for some extreme riding! Chris' Uncle Buck, who is actually Sandy's uncle, is the captain of the Big Black Excursion, and provides clients with little tidbits of info as they make their way through the hills. This is truly a family operation!
The sledsBurandt teamed up with Arctic Cat to supply the sleds he felt were best to ride on his adventures. Six fully prepped M-series VOHK mod sleds are on hand and ready to take to bottomless powder in some of Burandt's secret riding areas.
"This back country experience will help your riding skills, technique, body positioning and so much more!" Chris says as we head out the door.
The modified Cat M8s and M1000s will take you up the steeps and through the deeps. You also can ride your own sled, which will save you money, but our advice is to go ahead and try the Burandt mod sleds. We railed on these amped up M-Cats and I especially liked the M1000 153-incher with Speedwerx mods. It was a beast!
The sleds and the chance to learn from one of the greatest snowmobile riders of our time make Burandt's daylong outings unique. Our day began with a driver's meeting where Burandt stressed safety. To him, experiencing a wild day of fun riding is only successful when everyone comes home at the end of the day in one piece and with a big smile on their face.
You may be wondering if you'll be learning how to do seat grabs and back flips. Well, no. What you'll learn is how to ride and navigate tree-infested slopes and mountain terrain that would make a billy goat puke - downhill sidehilling and wrong foot forward riding are just a few of the skills you'll learn.
So, if you think you are strong enough, sled-savvy enough, bold enough and technical enough to keep up with Burandt, then this may be the challenge you're after. For most of us, the really cool thing about riding with Chris is being a Burandt student and challenging yourself to bring your riding to the next level. Another quick note, whining is taboo and excuses are barred on Burandt adventures, so you'll have to buck-up cowboy!
For me, riding with Burandt was more than just riding with a world champion, it was riding with a guy who is a master-boondocker. I'd pay 1,000 bucks just to sit and watch him slice through the trees on the side of a mountain for an hour.
Chris is also one of the nicest guys in the industry. A humble person who is confident in his abilities, not pompous or cocky and a role model that moms and dads can point to and say, "There's a good guy." He cares about his name, reputation and the sport that has been good to him. His happy-go-lucky smile and honest lifestyle separates him from the wanna-bees, and he and his biz are the real deal.
More info:
www.burandtsbackcountryadventure.com